Jujuy rescues 42 vicuñas from historic criadero

In a coordinated operation, provincial authorities rescued 42 vicuñas from the long‑running criadero 2 in Rodero, Jujuy, and transferred them to the INTA Mirafles facility in Abra Pampa for medical care and monitoring. The action involved the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Public Ministry’s environmental prosecutor’s office, the Environmental Court, the Ministry of Security and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology. The criadero, operating since the 1990s, was shut down under provincial law 5634, which promotes sustainable use of wild vicuña populations through capture, shearing and release rather than captivity. The owner of the former facility was charged with animal‑cruelty for neglecting to provide adequate food. Officials highlighted the rescue as a historic step for wildlife protection in the Puna region and a concrete example of the province’s conservation policy.

The rescued animals will remain under specialized supervision at the INTA site, where they will be monitored for recovery before possible re‑introduction into the wild.